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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. G. M. PETERS & H. K. PORBIS.

ANTI-RATTLER FOR THILL COUPLINGS.

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tiorngn Patented May 23, 1893.

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G. M. PETERS & H. K. PORBIS. ANTI-RATTLBB. FOR THILL COUPLINGS.

No. 497,988. Patented May 23, 1893.

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"UNi'TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE M. PETERS AND I-IARBERT K. FORBIS, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, AS- SIGNORS TO THE COLUMBUS BUGGY COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ANTl-RATTLER FOR THlLL-COUPLINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 497,988, dated May 23, 1893.

Application filed April 16, 1892. Serial No. 429,425. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, GEORGE M. PETERS and HARBERT K. FORBIS, citizens of theUnited States of America,and residents of the city of Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Anti-Shaft-Rattling Devices, of which the following is a specificawon.

The object of the invention is to produce an improved device by which the noise and vibration of thill or shaft couplings may be overcome.

In the accompanying drawings making a part of our specification, and to which reference is hereby made,Figure 1 is a side elevation of a shaft iron, and eye and supporting clip, shackle, and a device embodying our invention and applied to said eye and clip. A transverse section of an axle located within the clip is shown in this figure. Fig. 2 is in all respects similar to Fig. 1, except that our device is shown in a position the reverse of what appears in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view artly in elevation and partly in vertical section of the devices shown in Fig. 1, said section being taken in a plane a little to the side of a longitudinal axial line of the shaft iron B of Fig. 1, parts being omitted. Fig. 4 is a view in section and elevation of the device shown in Fig. 2,the parts shown in section and elevation being respectively similar to those shown in Fig. 3. Likewise the same parts are omitted as in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the device when combined as in Fig. 2, and extending from right to left as far as the dotted line 5, 5, of Fig. 2, the axle being omitted therefrom. Fig. 6 is a view of the top of the washer. Fig. 7 is a rear View of the wedge piece. Fig. 8 is a bottom view of the abutment. Fig. 9 is a rear elevation of the said abutment in a position the reverse of that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 10 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 8, and showing the shape of the abutment somewhat moditied to better suit its position when applied above the eye as shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 11 is an end elevation of the abutment shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a frontview of the wedge whose rear elevation is shown in Fig.

Fig. 13 is aview of the rubber sleeve and also a combination in a preferred mode, of a material to prevent the rubber from unduly bulging. Fig. 14: shows a modified arrangement of the same means for preventing the rubber from bulging too much. Fig. 15 shows a vertical central section of an abutment and washer, and a preferred mode of combining the same with a metal spring, should the latter be employed instead of the rubber. Fig.

16 is a top plan of a modification as applied, parts only of shaft and axle being shown.

A indicates the axle made in any suitable manner. In the present illustrative instance, the axle is made, as is frequently the case, of

two parts, one of which is of metal, and the other is of wood. The shaft 13 is provided with the usual eye 0.

D indicates the usual shaft support, which is connected to and supported by the axle A, or equivalent part of the vehicle. This shaft support D has the usual central rear portion D, and the end supports D D The latter are each provided with a bolt hole and a suitable bolt as E passes through one of these holes, thence through the bolt'hole of the eye and thence through the bolt hole of the other supporting piece D this bolt E having head E, at one end, and a securing nut E at the other end respectively located outside of and next to their adjacent supporting pieces.

The shaft support D is usually connected as shown to a clip F whose upper or strap portion passes around the upper side or top portion of the axle A, and its two lower portions or legs F, F are each provided with a screw thread, and respectively pass through holes in the bar F located below the axle. That part of each leg F and F of the clip, which projects below the bar receives its respective nut F and these nuts when tightened closely, securely and rigidly fasten the clip to the axle.

Thus far all of the mechanism herein particularly described is old and well known in the art.

We will now proceed to describe our invention, its functions and use, and in so doing we will take occasion to refer to the mechanism just described in illustrating the application of our invention and its principal uses and objects.

G indicates the wedge bar, one end portion G of which is of a wedge shape when viewed at the side, and the other .end portion is contracted and provided with a screw thread G The wedge shape of the end portion G of this Wedge piece G is well shown in Figs. 3. and 4. The forward side of the portion G is concavely curved so as to'fit against eye 0 of the shaft, the surface of said curve being in direct contact with a considerable portion of the periphery of the eye 0 substantially as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The rear face of the said portion G is flat, and preferably ,in .a plane which it continued some distance be yond" the free end of portion G would meet and cross the longitudinal axis of the wedge piece G. On the upper rearedge of the hook wedge piece or bolt G is asmall flange, or lip, or extension G The object of this extension is to provide an additional bearing and rear support as the front surface of the. wedge piece opposite theeye O wears away, and the wedge piecesettles lower or is drawn farther between the eye 0 and the opposing surface F For economizing. metal, the central portion of the face'lois recessed leavinga recess k.

The free end of portion G is larger from front to rear-than the distance from therear surface of the eye 0 to the face of the piece or'leg F supporting the same. Consequently when the end G of the wedge piece Gr isinserted between the said eye 0 and. the piece F and passed on, the-Wedge piece G. cannot wholly pass between the eye (J andpiece F, but the portion G will there wedge fast, in

- substantially the position shown in Figs?) and 4. A piece J of rubber made of a suit: able size is now located in conjunction with said wedge piece G, and the preferred :form

thereof is that'of a sleeve substantially as.

shown in Figs. 1, 2,3,4 and more particularly in Figs. 14 and 15. The sleeve ispassed onto the wedge piece G, the portionGr being passed through the central opening J of suchsleeve.

In order to properly maintain the'rubber J in; position and enable it to most eifecti-vely operate, we provide an abutment L, and con; structthe latter as follows: It has an outlying flange L, the latterv curving upward to; wardits outer edge, thereby causing the upperside of the abutment L to be dished. The abutment or binding washer L has a cup shaped flange L but this flange is omitted and the cup is open at one side. The floor of the washer has an opening L The rubbersleeve J .lies on the wedge pieceG, and its upper end fits closely within the recess L formed by the flangeL of the abutment.

Upon the end portion G3 of the wedge piece G and below the rubber J is a washer M, hav; ing an upwardly projecting flange M forming-a recess intowhich fits the lower end of the rubber v.J. The lower surface of this washer M has an elevation or elevations M of suitable shape, for engaging a counter partrecess or recesses in the nut N, which latter the washer.

' the upper'side of thes screwed onto the rod G3 of the wedge piece G-belowwasher L. A preferred description of such elevations are radial ones with sloping edges, so that the elevations and the recesses between them unite with each other in gently curved lines, substantially as shown in Figs. 1,2 and 3' of the'drawings, the said elevations being there indicated by the letter M The elevations N and intervening recesses of, the nut N are likewise curved. In this way the nut can be readily turned against The latter, owing to the friction existing between it and the stationary rubber, will remain stationary. When the nut has been sufficiently tightened upon the washer, the elevationsand depressions of the washer M will respectively engage the depressions and elevations Nxofthe nutNandhold the nut in the. place where it was located. For convenience of manipulatiomthe nut'N may be provided-with the thumb-wings N In practice, the wedge piece is first located between the eye 0 and face of the-legor piece F andbetween the arms or extension supports D D the portions G G3 of said piece G projecting below the said eye. The abutment L, rubber J, washer M and nut N are then located insuccession upon the wedge piece as heretofore specified. The nut N is then turnedforcing the washer M, rubber J sand abutment L upward, and. pressing the abutment L against the under surfaces of eye supporting pieces D still more, by screwing it upward onthe wedge The nut is tightened piece, th-ereby compressing the'rubber J, and

and the latter in turn draws down the eye 0, so that the eye 0 rests and bears hardupon piece G at the same time also pressesrthe eye 0 forward :againstthe-boltE. The elasticity of the rubber through the agencies mentioned, continually tends to keepthe eye 0 down on the bolt, and prevents vibration or rattling. When desired, the locking device maybe reversed,: substantially as shown in Fig. .2, thereby pressing the eye: up and forward against the .bolt E. Such an arrangement of our device is not as desirableas the one shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and moreover omits one important feature of our invention, to wit:-the arrangement of a device s05 as to press the eye down and forward on the eye bolt E.

Therubber sleeve J has a tendency to unduly bulgewhencompressed by the nut 'N betweenv the washer:M and abutment L. Such tendencymay be prevented bywhat ,iswanother feature :of our invention, viz:with the rubber sleeve J an inner lining J of canvas is combined .(see Fig. 13). This lining prevents the rubber from unduly crushing down and together in'the direction of its longitndinal axis, and yet does. not prevent the rubber from exerting its elasticity. This canvas also prevents the rubber from unduly bulging outward and away from the bolt.

eye bolt E. The wedge causing the upper or wedge-portionG, of the. wedge piece G to be drawn forcibly downward IIO Another mode of accomplishing the result just above mentioned is shown in Fig. 14, where the rubber strip has a narrow strip or girdle of canvas J located in or on the periphery of the rubber, and at or near midway between the ends of the rubber J. Canvas inclosing the rubber for its entire length prevents the rubber from properly acting.

When desired, other descriptions of elastic substances than the rubber J may be employed. One other such description is shown in the drawings under Fig. 15, and consists of a spiral spring J S, located between the abutment L and washer M, the ends of the spring respectively fastened onto the abutment and the Washer in a suitable manner, one mode of making such fastening being shown in the said Fig. of the drawings.

With the exception of that feature of invention which relates to drawing the eye 0 down rather than up, all of the features of our invention are advantageous whether the device is applied as shown in Fig. 1, or as in Fig. 2.

A very desirable advantage resulting from our invention is that the wedge piece G can be inserted, and the anti rattling device applied without removing the shaft or pole eyes as C from the shackles or supporting pieces as. D.

What we claim is 1. The combination with the thill coupling eye, of the shaft support and the coupling bolt, the wedge bar entering between said eye and support, said Wedge having a screw threaded stem, the inclosing cups one at each end of said stem, the rubber sleeve on said stem inclosed between the said cups, and the nut, engaging said stem at the end opposite the wedge piece and serving to compress the rubber sleeve between the two inclosing cups, all substantially as described.

2. The combination with the thill coupling eye, shaft support, and bolt of the integral metallic wedge piece extending between the eye and support, said wedge piece having a longitudinal recess in one face and having a screw threaded stem, a nut on said stem, and an elastic packing interposed between the shaft support and nut, all substantially as described. a

3. The thill coupling eye, bolt, and support, the wedge piece interposed between the eye and support and having a screw-threaded stem, the cupped pieces on this stem one of which has a bearing against the shaft support, the rubber Washer on said stem provided with a strengthening band, and the nut engaging the outer one of the cup pieces, all combined substantially as described.

GEORGE M. PETERS. HARBERT K. FORBIS.

Attest W. A. MILES, CHAS. F. GALLoWAY. 

